Bullets From The Bible-- 01-14-18
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The plagues were one of the most amazing displays of God’s power to the Children of Israel and to Egypt. The plagues were punishments upon Egypt by God for not releasing Israel from captivity. Moses and Aaron as God’s spokesmen to Pharaoh deliver the message to Pharaoh with each upcoming plague: “let my people go”. Yet each time Pharaoh finds an excuse and refuses to let them go. In the middle of the conversations between Moses and Pharaoh it is interesting to note the responses of Pharaoh’s magicians throughout the plagues.
The first plague is where God turned all of the water to blood. Pharaoh’s magicians...not to be outdone were able to do the same. It is interesting to note though that they performed this “magic” only after all of the water had already been turned to blood by God. Exodus 7:22 it says, “And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments”.
The second plague is frogs throughout the land. Interestingly enough...once frogs already overran the land Pharaoh’s magicians were also able to produce frogs. One might think that their display of power (had they been capable) would have been to remove the frogs...however that was not the case. Exodus 8:7 says, “And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.”
The third plague is lice. By this point the magicians no doubt were troubled. Notice their response to the lice. Exodus 8:18-19 says, “Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.”
The fourth plague (flies) and the fifth plague (disease on the animals) we do not read about the magicians. I imagine they did not want to be around Pharaoh much due to their inability to compete with God. The sixth plague (Boils) is the next time we read about the magicians. Exodus 9:11 reads, “And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians.” At this point Pharaoh’s magicians are powerless before the God of heaven.
We don’t read about the magicians of Pharaoh another time throughout the last four plagues. Hail, locusts, darkness, and death of the firstborn come and go and there is no mention of the magicians. If they truly have power would they not have wanted to display that power? If they truly had power as God did would they not have been able to remove the plagues that God sent? Throughout the Old Testament there are several times where people thought that they were more powerful than God. They either challenge God, try to escape from God, try to hide from God, or outright rebel against God...yet each time God’s power becomes obviously evident to them.
Do we really realize the power of God? Do we really realize how wonderful He is and how capable He is? Many times today people rebel against God and His will. Many today feel like they are self sufficient and that they can go their own way. Many laugh in the face of God by calling themselves “atheist”...yet one when it is too late God will once again make it overwhelmingly evident that His power is supreme!
